What is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is found in all of the cells of the body. Our body needs some cholesterol to…

The Truth About Coconuts

Many people automatically equate saturated fat with cholesterol. The case with coconuts is an example. While coconuts do have high saturated fat content, they do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol only comes from animal-based products such as meat, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.

On the contrary, one coconut by-product may even be beneficial in lowering cholesterol. One encouraging study by the University of Kerala in India, explored the cholesterol-lowering effects of virgin coconut oil. The results showed that consuming virgin coconut oil lowered total cholesterol levels in the participants. LDL (bad cholesterol) decreased as well as triglycerides, but it also slightly increased HDL (good cholesterol) in the test subjects.

So there you go. Coconut does NOT contain cholesterol but does carry a high proportion of saturated fat. However, with virgin coconut oil, even with its high saturated fat content, there are potential benefits in lowering cholesterol as well.

Being diagnosed with high LDL “bad” cholesterol levels should not be a hindrance in living one’s day-to-day life. There are a lot of medications available to lower cholesterol levels, which of course, should only be taken when prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe the following:

Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, blocks the cholesterol-producing enzyme from the liver, lowering the body’s “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and increasing its HDL or good cholesterol level. Statins prevent the formation of plaques in the arteries, and most statins are used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, but they can also have undesirable side effects such as constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain and headaches. Known brands of statins are Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin, Fluvastatin and Pravastatin.

Niacin, a B vitamin available from many food sources. Niacin lowers both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. Doctors may prescribe high doses of Niacin, such as the brands Niaspan, Niacor, and Nicolar. High levels of Niacin though, may include side effects such as headaches, itching, hot flashes and tingling. Fibric acid derivatives like Antara, Atromid, Lopid, and Tricor will reduce one’s triglycerides level and will also give your HDL cholesterol levels a mild boost.

Doctor s may also prescribe bile acid sequestrants, though this type is less potent than other lipid lowering agents. They block the absorption of cholesterol and restrict the re-absorption of bile acids, making the liver more active in bile synthesis and thus lessening its cholesterol synthesis, lowering LDL cholesterol levels by 15-30%. Examples of bile acid sequestrants in the U.S. are Questran, Welchol and Colestid.

Niacin – vitamin B supplement

If you are hypertensive, your doctor may advise taking Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, Diuretics, Beta-blockers or Calcium channel blockers. However, studies have shown that some beta blockers may increase triglyceride levels and decrease HDL cholesterol level, though these studies are still inconclusive.

For diabetics, statins are recommended to be the best drugs to improve lipid and cholesterol levels, as diabetics are also at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Children with diabetes, too, can take statins. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended in 2008 that statin may be prescribed to children age 8 and older who have high LDL cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL or higher, and children with LDL 160 mg/dL but have a history of heart disease in the family. To this day, the issue of prescribing statins to children is still a topic in the medical community.

Of course, doctors will always recommend a change in one’s lifestyle, both for children and adults who have been diagnosed of unhealthy cholesterol levels and a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification may not always be the cheapest way to avoid a high cholesterol level and cardiovascular diseases, but it’s definitely the safest. Those whose only risk factor has been a less- than-commendable lifestyle, they could generally retrieve their cholesterol level and triglyceride level back to normal by: